Letters to family

Stanford University Sunday morning, Aug 24th, 1902

My dear Family: About this time two weeks ago we were starting out for a row to the Sand Spit. There has been such a change in my life during the past two weeks that it seems as if it were one month since I was at the beach last. This morning I got up at seven, had a bath and went for breakfast at eight. After having breakfast I sat in front of the hotel in the shade of some trees for about two hours looking over today's papers and watching the people come and go on the trains. We have very good board at the "Palo Alto;" I believe, about the best in town for the money. You need not feel worried about me being tempted to drink here in Palo Alto, Mother; because there is not a saloon in the whole place. Before the town was started Mrs. Stanford requested that there should be no saloons here, and of course her wishes are respected.

I have seen Wilt five or six times since we came down and have always found him perfectly contented. Mr. Dixon is well liked by everyone especially by the boys. The last time that I was at the Hall Mr. Dixon seemed to be worried about where he would put a new student who is coming from Nevada. The boy is 19 years old, and is six ft., two inches tall. He thought he would have to build a small addition for him. Mr. Dixon has very kindly offered to give me advice at any time about my studies. He said that if I have any difficulty in any of my problems in mathematics to come to his instructor in mathematics and he was sure that this gentleman would be pleased to help me all he could.

I was at the Registrar's Office yesterday morning for my note books and drawings. They had misplaced them during the vacation, but hoped to find them [later?]. While there

Dr. Elliot told me that a messenger boy had been there the day before with a telegram for me. Of course I wondered what it could be about and hurried back to Palo Alto to the telegraph office for it. I found it was from you. We telegraphed back immediately, Mr. Dixon paying the charges of one dollar and ten cents. Our reason for not telegraphing before was that we supposed Mr. [Clinton?] would hear of the safe arrival of the Wellington in Frisco through the [Colliery?] Co. I suppose I did wrong in not wiring from Frisco; for thereis no telling off all the dangers it is possible for two kids to get into when away from home.

Yesterday at the Hotel I met a young man just down from Duncan's [BC?] where he has been teaching school for the past two years. Before going to Duncan Station he worked in the woods for Grant and Mounce of Cumberland for a number of months. Thompson is his name. He is here to take a post graduate

course in Languages at the University. He was very pleased to meet me; and I, him.

Yesterday afternoon I went to see my major professor, Professor Marx. He was incharge of the department of Electrical Engineering during Professor [Sanith's?] absence last year. When I reached his house he was out on the lawn putting a halter on a donkey for his children. After introducing myself, he said that, although Professor Smith was back to take charge of his department if there was any information which he could give me, he would be pleased to do so. The Professor is what you might call a typical down [Easterner?]. Years ago while at Cornell he knew a Major Turbell in Ithaca, N.Y. After making some inquiries about my previous studies he mapped out a schedule of studies for the coming semester, advised me not to take too

much work until I got to know the ropes, and in fact, talked to me as a father would to his son. Professor Smith called while I was there and Prof. Marx intrduced me to him. Professor Smith also knew this Major Turbell very well. He said that the Major had since died and that he had left a son who is practicing law there. After talking over the work which I take this fall, I excused myself and came home very much pleased that I had met the two Professors.

Sunday afternoon - The proprietor of the Palo Alto Hotel prides himself on his Sunday dinners. I have just returned from having mine. In each course one has a choice of quite a variety of dishes. The first thing on my bill of fare was chicken soup, [next?], fried chicken, potatoes, string beans, boiled fresh corn which has been cut from the cob (I do not know its proper name), and sliced cucumber; then apple pie and peaches. The dinner